Ralph Lauren Minute Repeater Watch

It has been quite some time since Ralph Lauren Watches offered any updates to what is likely my favorite of their timepieces – the Slim Classique collection. For 2017, Ralph Lauren quietly debuts the “Ralph Lauren Minute Repeater” which is an even more high-end version of the classy-looking men’s dress watch. Oddly, “Slim Classique” is missing from the name which leaves it sounding a bit too generic at just “Minute Repeater.” One guess as to why is that with the minute repeater movement the watch simply isn’t as “slim” anymore.

Minute repeater complications are perpetually in fashion not for their utility, but for the emotional satisfaction of using them, listening to them, and watching the movement’s parts dance through the activation. As you know, minute repeater watches have a function which when activated by the user (usually using a sliding lever on the side of the case) causes the watch to chime out the time. This is normally done with one set of chimes for the hour, another for the quarter-hour (15-minute increments), and then for any remaining minutes. It is helpful to be reminded of this fact with the label on the dial, but my gut instinct tells me that most collectors will prefer the dial without the “Minute Repeater” text as it doesn’t add anything artistically or functionally.

What I’ve always liked the most about the Ralph Lauren Slim Classique collection is the shape of the case including the attractive guilloche engraving on the bezel. I also really love the clean, elegant dial with just two hands. The dial is extremely legible and also decorative – a difficult mixture to get right. Here we see additional guilloche machine engraving on the face – which helps the watch feel exclusive and luxurious. The Minute Repeater isn’t quite as elegant as the two-hand model, but it is still a very nice execution. Added is a subsidiary second dial, in addition to the minute repeater complication.

For now, the 42.5mm wide case will come in 18k white gold – with other gold colors likely following later. Inside the watch is a movement Ralph Lauren calls the caliber RL888. Manually wound with 100 hours of power reserve, the movement operates at 3Hz (21,600bph) and is comprised of 300 parts. The watch case is water resistant to 30m (notable for a minute repeater), and the minute repeater complication also has a slider protection mechanism so that if it is not correctly activated the movement will not get damaged.

You can see the movement through the display caseback. It isn’t made by Ralph Lauren, but rather by partners within the Richemont Group. It’s a good choice for the watch, even if the entire composition of the timepiece makes for an expensive product. Attached to the case is a black alligator strap.

If you don’t want a Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, or similar prestige brand making your minute repeater watch – but want a similarly refined wearing experience, then the Ralph Lauren Minute Repeater could be a good option. It is handsome enough, doesn’t visually look like most of the competition, and is based on what I think is Ralph Lauren’s star timepiece. Price for the Ralph Lauren Minute Repeater in 18k white gold reference RLR0112704 is $206,000 USD. ralphlauren.com

Ralph, the ol’ WASP designer doesn’t give up! One not uninteresting watch after the other, but no one cares because it’s really expensive and a Ralph Lauren. In 30 Years, they’ll have an article on Hodinkee how underestimated these watches were and some 2047 hipsters will appreciate them. Now we throw them on the same pile like Dolce& Gabana. Keep it up Ralph!

“…if you don’t want a Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, or similar prestige brand making your minute repeater watch…” im sure Ralph Lauren is next in line for basically everyone, Because Lange is just so gauche. Passe even. Actually, thinking about that again maybe I do want people to think that way. It might start forcing Lange to drive pricing down and then I can snap up one of those passe gauche monstrosities and be scorned by the Ralph Lauren elite, and zero phucks will be given.

The immensity of guilloche is not awful, but certainly lends one to thinking of Breguet. Agree or fight me.

I am starting to believe there should be a overall independent governing body, in Switzerland, who has to approve a brands right to produce certain complications. This way, certain coveted complications cannot be pissed on, and the heritage and prestige can be left in tact. Clearly Richemont and LVMH cannot keep themselves in check from their own stupidity. I cannot think of a reason why this watch should exist. Not unless RL is seeing different sales results than what we are from Richmont’s yearly figures.

I don’t think Simon can draw that, the only drawers PG rated . Because the things he draws come true

SuperStrapper

I thought you were referring to an old Mike Myers SNL skit

Phil leavell

Might have been something a little bit funky in their last fondue

Sheez Gagoo

Most of the watch enterprises are located in places where Absinth is traditionaly made. The Swiss moonshine. Not anymore because it became legal but normally you dip the piece of bread in booze made of cherry (Kirsch), drink Fendant and at the end some Absinth. Unfortunately vomiting Fondue is like vomiting acid blood from the alien. Not like spaghetti, which is easy to vomit. Almost lethal. Really bad. I had to vomit Fondue once in my life. Since this moment I have some Fondue phobia. I think Ariel should eat some Fondue when he`s in Switzerland. Not that way that he has to suffer the same experience that I did, he needs to do some Swiss stuff when he`s here.

Phil leavell

I have drank absinth through sugar cubes , and and I love Kirsch but I’ve never mixed the two with fondue, my wife and I are sitting in an Indian restaurant and she read your text and last like hell. So once throwing in an extra donuts , 3 I owe you

WINKS

A used prophylactic.

Sheez Gagoo

I would be pleased to do so, but wait… There is such an authority, it’s called free market. It will care…

WINKS

Captain Coveted Complications !

wejpasadena

Where’s the little jockey on the horse? Isn’t that supposed to be on all RL products?

Maybe Ariel can confirm. Does this watch actually exist? We’re only seeing renders and I see no trace of it on his website. I assume it’s made to order or just a few produced. Theoretically there’s not one made yet or just a prototype at this point.

Kuroji

Pretty nice except for the MINUTE REPEATER text. Strange choice.

John Stevens

Beautiful watch and the detailing is very nicely done, unfortunately at this price I would prefer a Patek Philippe or a Vacherin Constantin and not one with Ralph Lauren on it

Ross Diljohn

And just like that Ralph Lauren had me.

Sir Wm. Rakish

by the chaps

BNABOD

Since I can humbly say I don’t shop anything in that price range I really have nothing to compare it to especially for a dress watch. The guilloche is it hand made ? Looks nice though and so does the movement , the minute repeater text has got to go but overall I am sure it is superbly well done but better than a Lange I highly doubt it. Throw in some platinum for this price.

Berndt Norten

Not sure humility is required on your part in the face of this theoretical 200k abomination (remember the render!)

WINKS

Ralph Lauren ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

The Lord

Humility is always appreciated. Thus saith The Lord.

Jonathan Smith

I do like their polo shirts, but if they charge the shirts at $2,000 I would pass. Same logic for this watch

I hear “Ralph Lauren watch” and I scoff at another faux fashion brand, then I see this watch and I’m blown away. Simply gorgeous.
But…*ahem*..the movement is “composed” of 300 parts, it “comprises” 300 parts.

Jon Heinz

And then, the price. Ralph Lauren on the dial evokes the jewelry and watch display at a Ross store. The watch is beautiful and all though. Who buys these probably has a room full of other high end horologie and truly don’t give a f***.

Larry Holmack

The only thing my wife would let me shop for that’s $206,000 is a new house!! ( It’s just the two of us and a dog…we don’t need a large home…). The watch is nice looking….but….the name on dial just doesn’t match the price.

Mike Darwin Brown

Nice, but many other choices at this price range…IWC to think of one!

Bozzor

The scary thing about this is that this watch perfectly highlights what is wrong with the watch industry. Intrinsically, this is an superb watch: classically beautiful but with a really different design aesthetic that gives it a unique character and will doubtlessly superbly made…by Richemont’s external suppliers. Ralph Lauren has no heritage in watches, no innate capability to conceptualise and execute something like this. Perhaps that would not matter so much if they were asking for $5-10K. But $200K? For that you demand heritage, or you demand incredible technical innovation, such as Urwerk or Richard Mille. I just can’t see someone shelving out that much cash for a label shared with $50 polos.

TrevorXM

You know there is only one thing wrong with this watch…

No wooden bezel.

otaking241

It’s mind-boggling that they would create this very ornate watch with one of the most rarefied complications in existence and a $200K price tag and then allow the company name to be so poorly printed directly on the dial. Totally gobsmacked here.

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